Thoughts on a 5” 686 +

[CLaw]

You all have me wanting to get a medium framed .357. I can’t find a GP100 anywhere, especially a WC. What do you all think of the new smiths and a 686 +?

My dad had one I loved as a kid, but I have always hated and worried about the Hillary hole, so I never picked one up.

Any issues with the 7 shot cylinders? Timing? Durability?

[blues]

You all have me wanting to get a medium framed .357. I can’t find a GP100 anywhere, especially a WC. What do you all think of the new smiths and a 686 +?

My dad had one I loved as a kid, but I have always hated and worried about the Hillary hole, so I never picked one up.

Any issues with the 7 shot cylinders? Timing? Durability?

I had a 3" which was a really nice gun. I sold it to a neighbor as he was looking for something for home defense, (and he and his wife are not gun folks, but not anti- at all), and I didn't feel comfortable carrying it with the lock. (It never had an issue, however.)

Mine was a nice example.

[psalms144.1]

No experience with recent Smiths, or 7-shot round guns at all. Having said that, the single finest, most accurate revolver I've ever owned or shot was a 5" 629 that I idiotically sold to fund a "Mountain Gun."

[jlw]

I briefly owned a 686+ but traded it at the first good opportunity. I shall not own another one unless it is a gift.

Mine became completely unreliable with a -1lb Wolff mainspring. Also, the 7th chamber meant different loaders. YMMV

[03RN]

I've been thinking I want a 5-6" 686 with a scope for yotes out passed 100 yards.

[Hambo]

I had a 6" recall (1980s) 686, but I liked the 4" better. I'm not sure how I'd feel about 5", but I like that companies have finally figured out that more than six can be safe in modern steel cylinders.

[FrankB]

I have a 686-6 4”, and it works the way it’s supposed to. I was going to sell it to my son, but decided to keep it. I did buy a Galco Fletch holster to carry it, and it just works in my Miata. 🤣
P.S. I hate the Hillary hole, but NEVER notice it.

[Pol]

You all have me wanting to get a medium framed .357. I can’t find a GP100 anywhere, especially a WC. What do you all think of the new smiths and a 686 +?

My dad had one I loved as a kid, but I have always hated and worried about the Hillary hole, so I never picked one up.

Any issues with the 7 shot cylinders? Timing? Durability?

Not my favorite S&W's but they work fine and should outlast most owners. Just check it out when you go buy it. DA trigger pull should be smooth. Cylinder should swing out with no binding. etc. etc. A friend picked up a 686 some time ago only to discover when he got home the barrel was canted to the side. S&W fixed it, but he had to jump through hoops.

[TiroFijo]

No experience with recent Smiths, or 7-shot round guns at all. Having said that, the single finest, most accurate revolver I've ever owned or shot was a 5" 629 that I idiotically sold to fund a "Mountain Gun."

Ouch.... that was a NICE gun you sold

[HeavyDuty]

A 5” would be ideal - I’ve always felt the sweet spots for revolvers are 3” and 5”, not 4” and 6”.

[Wyoming Shooter]

I recently bought a 5" SW 627 PC: https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/model-627?sku=170210. I don't have enough rounds through it to pass final judgment but, I enjoy it very much so far. It does offer a couple features not found on the 686: 1) It's cut for moon clips and 2) It has 8 rounds in the cylinder.

[Lost River]

No experience with recent Smiths, or 7-shot round guns at all. Having said that, the single finest, most accurate revolver I've ever owned or shot was a 5" 629 that I idiotically sold to fund a "Mountain Gun."




Ouch.... that was a NICE gun you sold

After years of playing with the various lengths, I have found that if I had to only have one, there is no question, it would be a 5" gun. It is the perfect compromise of shootability and packability.

https://i.imgur.com/48FrzKo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/L4ESAjo.jpg

[Shades]

A 5” would be ideal - I’ve always felt the sweet spots for revolvers are 3” and 5”, not 4” and 6”.

I have also come to this conclusion. I have 4" M10 and M13, as well as a 4" 686; I'd love to have 3" tubes on the K frames and a 5" on the 686. Not that they're bad as they are, I just think they would be improved by the inch adjustment. No experience with 7-shooters.

[CLaw]

I struck out. :(

They didn't have it when I stopped by to grab it.

They had a 586 L-Comp for $1,100. I just wasn't too sure about the whole comp and the price. :( Was I dumb to pass this up?

Another store had 617, but it had been sitting there for a while and had rust in spots. Despite the rust, they wanted $800.

I also saw a 27 which was really cool, but I wasn't sure about an N-frame (I have relatively small hands, lol).

[Stephanie B]

They had a 586 L-Comp for $1,100. I just wasn't too sure about the whole comp and the price. :( Was I dumb to pass this up?

These days? If you can afford it and if it was new, yeah. You were. IMO. List is $1,250.


Another store had 617, but it had been sitting there for a while and had rust in spots. Despite the rust, they wanted $800.

I also saw a 27 which was really cool, but I wasn't sure about an N-frame (I have relatively small hands, lol).

Way too much for a rusty 617. That's a common complaint about N-frames.

[CLaw]

Okay. Think a local store got this in -

-66-8 357 2.75" bbl
-586 L-Comp 357 3" bbl (Passed originally)

From you revolver experts out there, which would be your choice if you only had one other revolver, a j frame?

Any tips, guides, videos on what to look for to avoid getting a trouble gun that may have some issues from the factory, such as barrel installation issue that can be seen from the front sight not being aligned?



These days? If you can afford it and if it was new, yeah. You were. IMO. List is $1,250.



Way too much for a rusty 617. That's a common complaint about N-frames.

[Stephanie B]

Okay. Think a local store got this in -

-66-8 357 2.75" bbl
-586 L-Comp 357 3" bbl (Passed originally)

From you revolver experts out there, which would be your choice if you only had one other revolver, a j frame?

Any tips, guides, videos on what to look for to avoid getting a trouble gun that may have some issues from the factory, such as barrel installation issue that can be seen from the front sight not being aligned?

The Revolver Checkout is a good place to start (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Fh3F6hufhDMWZiNjBkMWItZDhkNS00MTlhLWE4YzMtOTdmN 2YwNmY4NzM2/view).

[03RN]

Okay. Think a local store got this in -

-66-8 357 2.75" bbl
-586 L-Comp 357 3" bbl (Passed originally)

From you revolver experts out there, which would be your choice if you only had one other revolver, a j frame?

Any tips, guides, videos on what to look for to avoid getting a trouble gun that may have some issues from the factory, such as barrel installation issue that can be seen from the front sight not being aligned?

Those are pretty similar guns. Do you want blued or stainless?

I do like that the 586 has 7 rds and all ready cut for moon clips.

I do like how comfortable my 66 is to carry with a speedloader aiwb

[Stephanie B]

586: 7 rounds, cut for moonclips.

66: six rounds, oodles of speedloaders and carry options. Lighter and thinner than a 586.

If I had both, I'd bet significantly that it'd be the 66 that got carried most of the time. But I've never even held a 586 L-Comp.

[CLaw]

Thx. Are you able to shoot with or without the moon clips? Does it affect the ejection of spent cases or headspace?


Those are pretty similar guns. Do you want blued or stainless?

I do like that the 586 has 7 rds and all ready cut for moon clips.

I do like how comfortable my 66 is to carry with a speedloader aiwb

[Nick B]

Why don’t you just have the store order you a 5” ?

[CLaw]

Why don’t you just have the store order you a 5” ?

They say they can’t right now. *shrugs* online stores seem out of stock of everything too. I may just wait.

[03RN]

Thx. Are you able to shoot with or without the moon clips? Does it affect the ejection of spent cases or headspace?

You can shoot without as well and it doesn't change anything.

[CLaw]

Thx for the replies and info. I don’t really plan on carrying it. I just have always wanted a larger revolver for fun to just shoot you could say.

[wvincent]

No experience with recent Smiths, or 7-shot round guns at all. Having said that, the single finest, most accurate revolver I've ever owned or shot was a 5" 629 that I idiotically sold to fund a "Mountain Gun."

Casting shade on the "Mountain Gun"? What's wrong with you dude?:D:D;)
Seriously though, what didn't you like? I have the 57-5, and I dig it as my "outdoor big bore".

[psalms144.1]

Casting shade on the "Mountain Gun"? What's wrong with you dude?:D:D;)
Seriously though, what didn't you like? I have the 57-5, and I dig it as my "outdoor big bore".My 5" was an absolute laser - most accurate pistol I've EVER owned or shot. The Mountain gun was "meh" at best in the accuracy department, the trigger was dog poop in a bag.

Nothing wrong with the MG for its intended purpose as a packable backwoods big-boomer, but definitely a disappointment compared to that old 629...

[Nick B]

Big 686 fanboy here. I have a 4”, 6”, and a 8 3/8” now but have been wanting to add a 5”. Well I just got back from fondling one at my LGS.
Wasn’t cheep at $899.00 but I looked it over good and it was right and tight . Barrel on straight, good forcing cone cut, good crown, good cylinder gap, timing spot on . Now I have to talk myself into it .

[Pol]

Barrel on straight, ...

It is really sad that we have to check for that on a S&W.

[Stephanie B]

Big 686 fanboy here. I have a 4”, 6”, and a 8 3/8” now but have been wanting to add a 5”. Well I just got back from fondling one at my LGS.
Wasn’t cheep at $899.00 but I looked it over good and it was right and tight . Barrel on straight, good forcing cone cut, good crown, good cylinder gap, timing spot on . Now I have to talk myself into it .

Son, you have come to the right place.

[FrankB]

Big 686 fanboy here. I have a 4”, 6”, and a 8 3/8” now but have been wanting to add a 5”. Well I just got back from fondling one at my LGS.
Wasn’t cheep at $899.00 but I looked it over good and it was right and tight . Barrel on straight, good forcing cone cut, good crown, good cylinder gap, timing spot on . Now I have to talk myself into it .

You just checked all the boxes, so it sounds like your GTG. 😆👍

[CLaw]

Well, I ended up getting a Model 27... Now I need a holster and some good grip suggestions! lol